West launches murder appeal

The West's home was dubbed the House of Horrors

Serial killer Rosemary West has submitted an appeal against her 10 convictions for murders committed with husband Fred.

Her solicitor, Leo Goatley, said he had faxed a skeleton argument to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which examines possible miscarriages of justice, and would deliver the rest of the paperwork in person.

He said: "An application to review the case has been made on the basis that she didn't get a fair trial for a number of reasons, which I am not going to go into."

West was sentenced to life five years ago for murdering 10 young women, including her 16-year-old daughter, Heather, at the family home in Cromwell Street, Gloucester.

A previous appeal was rejected in 1996 by the Lord Chief Justice Lord Taylor.

Solicitor Leo Goatley believes photographs could prove Rosemary West's innocence

The Midlands-based commission could order a re-trial at the Court of Appeal, if it decides that West has a case.

The new appeal is being attempted on the grounds that photographs of their victims, taken by Fred West, were withheld at her trial.

Mr Goatley believes that the photographs could prove that Rosemary West was not present at the time of the killings.

Fred West hanged himself in his prison cell while awaiting trial, almost six years ago.

Rosemary West, 46, is serving her sentence at Durham Prison.